Diatoms of North AmericaDiatoms of North America
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Guide to Tursiocola alata

Frankovich, Ashworth and M.J.Sullivan 2018

Tursicola alata guide
  1. Marginal ridges elevated
  2. Cincture wide
  3. Apices acute
  4. Mantle wider at apices than at center
  5. Cells apochlorotic

The characteristic features observed (in girdle view) are elevated marginal ridges, wide cincture, and valve mantle that is wider near the apices than at the central valve. The apices of the valve may be observed in the rare specimens that lie in valve view. Living cells are apochlorotic (non-photosynthetic).